4 Considerations When Filing For An Auto Insurance Claim
Being in a car accident isn’t an easy thing to deal with, whether you’re at fault or not. You may experience trauma, incur injuries, or become unable to work. As a result, you may need some time off to recuperate.
However, this could result in loss of income, which can affect your monthly budget, especially when your car needs repair and the like. Thankfully, you can have an insurance claim to help you cover loss of salary, medical expenses, or property damage.
But before such, you may want to consider the following when filing for an auto insurance claim:
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Auto Accident Lawyer
While it’s possible to handle your claim without the help of an attorney, it’s still best to hire one. You need to allocate time and effort if you want to have a successful insurance claim. When you’re injured, you’re less likely to do the tedious paperwork. Moreover, you may not have sufficient knowledge of personal injury laws, which could affect the success rate of your claim.
That being said, hiring a lawyer could save you time and money from collecting and filing documents. Auto accident lawyers are also experienced and well-versed with personal injury laws, making them more effective when filing claims.
By then, you can focus on getting better as your lawyer will file the claim on your behalf. And when you plan to hire one, prepare questions to ask a car accident attorney. That way, you can weigh if the lawyer has experience handling similar cases from your case.
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Various Forms Of Insurance Claims
Another factor to consider is that different insurance providers give various claims for the policy. And you have two options when it comes to the insurance claims that you can place on your policy. These include cashless claims and reimbursement claims; knowing these is essential so you can find the best car insurance.
The former is a type of claim that settles your vehicle’s repair bills. Often, your insurance provider has a partner shop where you can take the car in for repair and refurbishment.
Meanwhile, reimbursement claims refund the money you’ve spent on car repairs. This means you’ll be the one to settle the bill, take the vehicle to the repair shop, and pay for all the expenses from your own wallet. You’ll then be asked to prepare all the necessary documents, which the providers will use as a basis for the reimbursement.
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State-Mandated Limitations For Reporting Accidents
Statutes of limitations vary per state. But in general, this is the period wherein you can report accidents and other legal actions. If you’ve exceeded this statute of limitation, you can no longer file a legal action.
Regardless, almost all insurance companies advise one thing, and that’s to report the accident immediately. If you tried reading your car insurance policy, you’d see that the insurance provider may not have clearly specified the timeline and inclusions of the insurance. They only tell you to report it as soon as possible without giving a definitive number of days.
As the policyholder, you should follow your insurance provider and let them know about the accident as early as possible. Whether your car requires repair or you’ve incurred injuries, it’s still a good idea to inform them.
By keeping your insurance provider aware of everything that happens to you and your car, you can increase your chances of getting a claim. Moreover, undertaking the proper procedure makes it easier for you to discover if something is wrong with your car days or weeks after the accident.
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Negotiation About Your Settlement
One of the many reasons why you may want to hire an auto accident lawyer is for negotiation purposes. Sometimes, the insurance provider may offer lower than what you deserve. Doing so requires excellent negotiation skills so that the insurer will give the proper claim you deserve.
If you think you need more than your settlement offer, then the only way to address that is to talk to your insurance company. Discuss with them why you think you deserve more than the offer.
To support your argument, bring all the essential documents like police reports, medical bills, and records, to name a few. If you have a stronger case, you’ll be more likely to get approved for higher compensation. And all of these tasks will be handled by your lawyer if ever you hired one.
Conclusion
Knowing these factors will help you get approval for your claim. Seeing that time is essential when reporting a car insurance claim, it’s best to check your state’s statute of limitations. Or better yet, hire a lawyer to help you make the process easier. That way, you can rest without any worries.
